DENVER (AP) — Kenneth Faried scored 22 points and had 17 rebounds and the Denver Nuggets opened the season Wednesday night with an 89-79 win over Detroit, spoiling the debut of Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy.
Aaron Afflalo, in his second tour with Denver after being acquired in an offseason trade with Orlando, had 15 points. Timofey Mozgov added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, coming off a 36-46 campaign marked by losses of key players to injuries, including Danilo Gallinari, JaVale McGee, J.J. Hickson and Nate Robinson, though all four are healthy now.
Josh Smith, Detroit’s leading scorer last season, had 25 points to lead the Pistons. D.J. Augustin added 15 points.
The Pistons managed only one basket in the last three minutes.
Lincoln – Fans got their first chance to see the 2014-15 Nebraska basketball teams Thursday night as both the Husker men and women scrimmaged as part of Big Red Tip-Off at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The fun family-friendly event featured a pair of 15-minute scrimmage, as well as a 3-point contest, while both men’s coach Tim Miles and women’s coach Connie Yori previewed the upcoming season.
Miles, who begins his third season at Nebraska, appreciated the fans who turned out on a very busy sports night in the Midwest.
“I think this is a great event for the fans,” Miles said. “I thought it was well attended on a difficult night to attend, in terms of the Royals doing something they haven’t done in 30 years. It is a big sporting event across the world, but at the same time, I think we had a lot of fans come out and support us and really see what the teams have to offer. I think the league has improved a great deal, every year and I think we will have a better product on the court.”
Miles also appreciated the support that fans have shown for both Husker programs, as both the Husker men and women ranked in the top-20 nationally in attendance last year, and the event provides fans a chance to see both teams in action.
“I think it is great having the men’s and women’s teams together because a lot of fans don’t necessarily get to watch both teams,” Miles said. “I think it is a lot of fun and it is always a different energy level when you have those two teams out there.”
In the 3-point contest, Walter Pitchford advanced to the finals with 16 points, hitting 10 consecutive 3-pointers to close the contest and best Andrew White III (11 points) and Terran Petteway (nine). Pitchford lost in the finals to Emily Cady, 12-11, as Pitchford missed the final shot at the buzzer to tie.
The Husker men closed the event with a 15-minute scrimmage, with the Red squad posting a 50-35 victory. Newcomer Andrew White III led all scorers with 18 points, including four 3-pointers in his Pinnacle Bank Arena debut, while Pichford and Petteway added 13 and 12 points, respectively. For the White squad, Shavon Shields and Tai Webster tied for team-high honors with 10 points each.
The Huskers will have their only exhibition next Thursday, Nov. 6, when they host Southwest Minnesota State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be carried on the Husker Sports Network and Huskers.com.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — These are heady days for the Nebraska basketball program.
The Cornhuskers are coming off their highest conference finish and first NCAA tournament appearance since 1998, and played to sellout crowds in their first year at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Shavon Shields said when he and his teammates went out to lunch or to the movies during the offseason, well-wishers were quick to slap them on the back and urge them to keep the wins coming.
There’s even a waiting list for season-tickets now — almost unimaginable for a program that hasn’t won a conference championship since 1950.
“I’ve had a blast. That’s what it’s supposed to be like,” third-year coach Tim Miles said of the vibe around his program. “I think it’s earned with these guys. But now staying there and continuing to elevate is sometimes more difficult than the innocent climb to get where they are now.”
All five starters, including Big Ten scoring leader Terran Petteway, return from the team that went 19-13 and won eight of its last nine regular-season games to finish fourth in the conference. Along the way they knocked off two top-10 opponents, Michigan State on the road and Final Four participant Wisconsin at home.
“Preseason hype is always based on the year-before’s performance, and I think our guys finished so strong that naturally they’re going to get attention because we return a large part of our team,” Miles said. “But every year’s different. Last year we got hot. I don’t know that means you’re exactly a good team.
“This year we’re out to prove we can be a good team.”
Shields said he appreciates the excitement surrounding the Huskers. Still, he and his teammates weren’t satisfied with how last season ended because they fell short of their goals — winning a Big Ten regular-season title or a game in the NCAA tournament (they lost 74-60 to Baylor).
“Everybody is kind of hungry to build on some of the good things we did, but we need to push that farther,” Shields said.
Here are some things to watch for the coming season, which begins Nov. 16 against Northern Kentucky:
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Graduate transfer Moses Abraham and freshmen Tarin Smith and Jake Hammond are in line for significant playing time.
The 6-foot-9, 252-pound Abraham will provide some bulk when Miles wants to go with a big lineup. Abraham blocked 23 shots while averaging 13 minutes a game for Georgetown last season.
Smith was a two-year starter at point guard in coach Bob Hurley’s famed St. Anthony High program in Jersey City, New Jersey, while the 6-foot-10, 230-pound Hammond averaged 26 points and 15 rebounds at Comanche (Okla.) High last season.
PRESEASON RANKING? The Huskers are poised to be ranked in The Associated Press’ preseason Top 25 for the second time, and first since 1992-93. Miles said he would welcome a ranking because it would show prospective recruits his program is recognized nationally.
CHANGING HIS GAME: Miles wants the 6-foot-10 Walter Pitchford to get to the free-throw line more than his average last season of 3.3 times a game. Pitchford is a matchup nightmare because he’s a 41 percent 3-point shooter, but Miles said he also needs the forward to attack the rim and get fouled.
ALL ABOUT DEFENSE: Nebraska became one of the Big Ten’s better defensive teams during conference play, and Miles said that needs to continue. The Huskers were second in field-goal defense and third in scoring defense in Big Ten games.
PETTEWAY THE PRO? Petteway already has drawn the attention of pro scouts and if he has another big year, he could be Nebraska’s first NBA first-round draft pick since Venson Hamilton in 1999.
Petteway, a junior, is scheduled to graduate in May.
“If he’s got a chance to secure his future, I would advise him to do that,” Miles said. “Would I love to keep him here and see what he can do? Absolutely. At the same time, you only get those cracks so many times in life.”
DENVER (AP) — The Nuggets have waived forward Quincy Miller after failing to find a trade partner for the 6-foot-10 third-year pro.
The Nuggets drafted Miller out of Baylor in 2012 and he appeared in 59 games over the last two seasons for Denver. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13.8 minutes. He played in 52 games last season.
In seven preseason games this year, Miller, 21, averaged 3 points and 2 boards.
Lincoln — Fans who attend Big Red Tip-Off on Wednesday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena will have the first opportunity to get the 2014-15 men’s and women’s basketball schedule posters.
The new schedule posters will be available for pickup at Big Red Tip-Off, while players from both the Husker men’s and women’s teams will sign posters for 45 minutes following the conclusion of Big Red Tip-Off. Both teams will be split into two groups, allowing fans to get through lines quickly. The men’s team will be on the main concourse, while the Husker women will be signing on the floor.
Posters will be available for players to sign, as other items to autograph will be prohibited. Also as a reminder, autographs obtained for players and coaches are for personal use only. Any re-sale of an autographed item is prohibited and re-sale of an item with a student-athlete’s signature could jeopardize the player’s eligibility.
Pinnacle Bank Arena doors open at 5:45 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exception of the Red Zone student section behind the benches. Sports Nightly will broadcast from Pinnacle Bank Arena during the 6 p.m. hour.
The Husker women will conduct a 15-minute scrimmage first before halftime festivities take place with a 3-point shooting contest between players from both teams, a dunk contest from the Husker men and a performance by the Scarlets. The Husker men will scrimmage for 15 minutes following halftime and will feature live commentary from Coach Tim Miles.
Nebraska Basketball Tip-Off Event Schedule
5:45 p.m. – Gates open
6:00 p.m. – Sports Nightly Broadcast from Pinnacle Bank Arena
6:30 p.m. – Introductions of both men’s and women’s teams
Nebraska was picked as the preseason No. 17 team in the country among the College Sports Madness Top 44 women’s basketball programs on Thursday, Oct. 23.
The Huskers return four starters from last season’s Big Ten Tournament championship team that advanced to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Nebraska, which went 26-7 last year including 12-4 in the Big Ten, returns senior starters Emily Cady, Hailie Sample and Tear’a Laudermill, along with junior first-team All-Big Ten point guard Rachel Theriot.
Theriot, who recently was chosen as one of the top 20 players in the nation by College Sports Madness, also will have senior Brandi Jeffery and sophomores Allie Havers and Esther Ramacieri to distribute to as returning players throughout the season.
Laudermill, who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in her first season as a starter in 2013-14, was ranked No. 24 in the College Sports Madness player rankings for the 2015 WNBA Draft. Laudermill, a 5-9 guard from Moreno Valley, Calif., has previously been ranked among the top 15 players for the WNBA Draft by another on-line publication.
Nebraska’s seven returning players are being joined by seven newcomers who have been ranked as the best recruiting class in school history.
Nebraska fans will get their first chance to see the new Huskers in action next Wednesday, when Coach Connie Yori and the Husker women join Coach Tim Miles and the Husker men for Big Red Tip-Off at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Doors open for the free event at 5:45 p.m., with action set to start at 6:30.
The Husker women open exhibition play against Wayne State College on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 p.m. Season tickets for Nebraska women’s basketball are available now at Huskers.com.
Lincoln – The University of Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office announced Wednesday that a limited number of men’s basketball non-conference tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 8 a.m. Tickets will be available on Huskers.com or by calling the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED.
The tickets, which are located in the 300 section, will be available for $7 apiece, except for the Dec. 13 game against Cincinnati, which are priced at $10 each. Tickets will be available for the Huskers’ exhibition game and every home non-conference game except for the Dec. 7 contest against Creighton.
The Huskers enter the 2014-15 season ranked 21st in the USA Today Coaches Poll and return five starters, including All-Big Ten performers Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields, from a team that won 19 games and reached the NCAA Tournament. Nebraska ranked 13th nationally in attendance in 2013-14, averaging a school-record 15,419 fans per game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Fans will have their first opportunity to see the 2014-15 Huskers at the Big Red Tip-Off on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m. The scrimmage is free and open to the public and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
NEW YORK (AP) — NBA owners have voted down proposed changes to the league’s draft lottery system, staving off efforts to curb tanking for the time being.
The proposal was defeated 17-13 on Wednesday at the league’s board of governors meetings. It was a somewhat surprising turn of events after appearing earlier in the week that there was support for reforms that would make it more difficult for teams with the worst records to secure the top pick in the draft.
The vote means the existing system will remain in place for now. The team with the worst record will still have a 25 percent chance at getting the top pick and cannot drop lower than fourth.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says there was some concern that implementing changes would “have unintended consequences.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press will periodically look at the changing landscape of the NBA during the upcoming season from three perspectives: A player’s viewpoint, from the bench, and from the front office. An interview with veteran forward Paul Pierce of the Washington Wizards tips off the series:
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When Paul Pierce watched the Washington Wizards in last season’s playoffs, he saw plenty of talent and potential.
He also saw some mistakes.
The Wizards needed something. Weeks later, he decided they needed … him.
There have been more than 500 transactions involving NBA players since the San Antonio Spurs ended last season hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Most of those transactions were barely noticed, hardly creating a ripple in the league’s power structure. But others — like Pierce signing with the Wizards in July — figure to have a significant impact on the 2014-15 season.
“That’s the beauty of our game,” Pierce said. “Any moment, one player can change the whole landscape of your franchise.”
NBA offseasons attract perhaps more attention now than some teams get in the regular season. This summer, LeBron James went home to Cleveland, Kevin Love got traded there to join him, Lance Stephenson moved to Charlotte, Chandler Parsons headed to Dallas, Chris Bosh stayed put in Miami, and Carmelo Anthony remained in New York. Already, there’s a buzz about what the blockbuster-in-waiting summer free-agent period of 2016 will look like.
Players hold more power now than ever. In Pierce’s eyes, that’s what sets the NBA apart from other major U.S. pro leagues — that one player can change a team’s fortunes.
And, thanks in large part to moves like the one he made, the NBA has a different look on the court entering this season than it did when confetti came down in San Antonio four months ago.
“People don’t love the same teams winning all the time,” Pierce said. “They want to see other teams that weren’t in the spotlight before get into the spotlight. When you have constant landscape change, it brings great interest to the league.”
These days, it might as well be called the LeBron Rule.
James left Cleveland for Miami in 2010, the Heat went to four straight NBA Finals, and the Cavaliers became bottom-feeders overnight. He left Miami and returned to Cleveland this summer, and the Cavaliers are instantly the big favorites to win an NBA championship.
Pierce isn’t conceding anything to Cleveland. He’s in Washington looking for a second ring.
He was part of a star-studded group that went to Brooklyn with eyes on a title, but the Nets lost center Brook Lopez early in the year and never realized their potential. Afterward, Pierce weighed his options — stay in Brooklyn? Move to his Los Angeles hometown to join the Clippers? — before deciding he could be the missing piece to Washington’s championship puzzle.
He’s convinced he made the right move.
After watching the Wizards last season, Pierce realized they were rushing everything in the deciding minutes of second-round games against the Indiana Pacers. They were outscored in the final three minutes in every game, something Pierce chalked up to a relative lack of playoff experience.
That’s what he brings to Washington.
“I think we have something here,” Pierce said.
He’s a Wizard now, though deep down, his Celtics roots are still there.
He spent 15 years in Boston, raised eyebrows when he showed up at Fenway Park for Derek Jeter’s final game last month wearing Celtics colors, still speaks highly of that team and that city. But he says the days of seeing stars like Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan spend their entire careers in one place are just about over.
“You’re going to see star players in different places and it’s going to create more balance, it’s going to create interest from teams you normally, probably, don’t have interest from,” Pierce said. “The landscape is constantly going to change. I think people love that. They can’t wait for the NBA Finals but they can’t wait for offseason moves, either.”
His wife and three kids, ages 6, 3 and 1, are settled in Washington. He’s forged a bond with his new team, his new coach, the people around him.
“Already you see the potential, but you see the hunger,” Pierce said. “Each and every day. I’m usually always the first one to the gym, every team I’ve ever played on, but since coming here you see a lot of the young guys, they’re getting here early, it’s like they want to get better. It’s like they want to take the next step from a year ago of not just making the playoffs but doing something really special.”
At 37, Pierce has seen the NBA wildly transform, including the league’s new television deal, to be worth $24 billion over nine years.
“You’re seeing so many changes,” Pierce said. “I mean, the TV deal, you see where that’s going, into the billions. These TV companies are paying billions because they know something, that a lot of these people around the world want to see our game and want to continue to see more of it, more teams. So I think we’re really just scratching the surface.”
Lincoln – Registration is now open for the Nebrasketball Buddies youth event on Monday, Nov. 10, at Pinnacle Bank Arena from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Nebrasketball Buddies, formerly known as Husker Buddies, is a carnival-style event, featuring different opportunities for participants to engage with the Nebraska coaching staff and players. The group is open for all kids in grades K-6.
The cost of the sign up is $40 and includes an official Nebrasketball Buddies T-Shirt, food, drinks, and a chance to win prizes throughout the evening at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Fans who sign their kids up before Nov. 6 can register for only $30. Kids must be accompanied by an adult throughout the Nebrasketball Buddies event.
For additional information or questions, contact Tim Miles Basketball Camps and Clinics at [email protected] or by calling (402) 480-4507.
DENVER (AP) — Kenneth Faried scored 22 points and had 17 rebounds and the Denver Nuggets opened the season Wednesday night with an 89-79 win over Detroit, spoiling the debut of Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy.
